Multi-million pound lottery boost for nature reserve

Julian Hearne

Scotland’s largest urban nature park is to benefit from a £4.6m Heritage Lottery (HLF) Fun boost - creating a national visitor destination.

The Seven Lochs Wetland Park Project spans the Glasgow and North Lanarkshire boundaries and takes its name from the lochs in the area. The initiative will bring together the built heritage, such as Provan Hall in Easterhouse, various archaeological sites, Drumpellier Country Park in Coatbridge, and five nature reserves to create a national visitor destination encouraging people to explore the ‘hidden’ heritage within its boundaries. New paths and visitor facilities are planned along with a number of initiatives to encourage local communities and visitors to explore the rich heritage on their doorstep.

The funding is part of a much larger £9m HLF investment which will see the organisation support three other projects across Scotland.

Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “As the summer weather encourages people outside to explore, we’re delighted to be able to help these projects conserve precious places while making them more available for people to enjoy. We know from ecological surveys that our natural heritage is being lost due to the activities of humans, yet it is crucial for our survival. Thanks to players of the National Lottery, Scotland’s natural heritage has benefitted from over £100million HLF investment.”